Although he initially left the judge's chair after season 12, he returned to the show during season 13 to replace Jimmy Iovine as the in-house mentor, instead.

Producers FreemantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment said in a statement (via the Hollywood Reporter): “Randy has been such an integral part of American Idol since Day 1, both as a judge and as a mentor. He’s provided great advice and support, shaping the success of so many Idols we have discovered over the years. We wish him all the best in his next chapter. Randy will always be part of our Idol family and we hope he’ll visit from time to time."